DCHP-3

smoke

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1n.

a fire which gives off dense, acrid smoke from having damp moss, green grass or leaves, etc. heaped on its flames.

See: smudge (DCHP-1)(def. 1)

Quotations

1689
[There was] abundance of Musketers & at night could not gett wood Enough for to make a smoke to Clear ym. . . .
1717
The Musketos was so thick . . . they was forc'd to make a Great Smoke as they could hardly fetch thare breath's. . . .
1849
In the evening the mosquitoes were excessively annoying till we made "smokes" with wet moss.
1872
My host "made a smoke" and the cattle came close around.
2n.

a column of smoke from a dampened fire, intended as a signal or taken as a sign of the presence of other men.

Quotations

1717
Our Indian Tells me that he did see a Great Smoke to the Norward.
1858
Once or twice "smokes," which, from their being soon answered in another quarter, we presumed to be signals, and might be raised by the Blackfeet in the distant prairies, appeared on the west side of the river.
1954
They thought now that he must be somewhere ahead of them, but they never could find him though they did their best, making big smokes and firing rifles from time to time.
3an.

a rest period between spells of travelling.

See: pipe ((1))(def. 2)

Quotations

1869
Smoke [is] A canoe man's resting spell.
3bn.

a spell of travelling or rowing between rest periods at which a pipe was smoked; the distance that could be travelled in such a spell.

See: pipe ((1))(def. 1)

Quotations

1875
I said to one of the men, "How far have we to go now?" He considered solemnly for a few moments and then said, "Five smokes."
3cn.

a space of time.

See: pipe ((1))(def. 3)

Quotations

1921
Then the brigade would paddle incessantly for about two hours; then they would "spell," and paddles were laid aside "one smoke."
1929
We separated a little, however, so that all should not be killed at once. To go the distance took us many smokes.
4n.

a drift of smoke seen at a distance as evidence of a forest fire.

Quotations

1963
[The lookouts] are manned 24 hours a day during the fire season, have two-way radios or telephones, a fire-finder for obtaining-a bearing on a "smoke". . . .